NOBEL LAUREATE and former Archbishop of Cape Town, Desmond Tutu has apologized to the victims of xenophobic violence in South Africa that left over 60 dead and thousands homeless.“The Diocese of Johannesburg called together people and said we need to repent and so this is a service of repentance in which we confess our sins of xenophobia,” Archbishop Tutu told SABC.
In May riots and violence directed towards immigrants from Mozambique, Zimbabwe and other African countries erupted across South Africa’s townships.
Tens of thousands of people were displaced, seeking shelter in police stations and refugee camps set up by the government.
While no single event sparked the violence, analysts state tensions have been on the rise due to high unemployment, rising food prices, crime, and general discontent with the slow pace of reform from the government.
In a July 20 inter-faith service in Johannesburg, Archbishop Tutu said “We were welcomed as exiles, as freedom fighters in those African lands. Could we really have forgotten so soon?”
“We won't tolerate this,” Tutu said. “Those who have been victims, we want to tell them we are sorry and we will not repeat this.”
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